Side frame for car trucks



Dec. 8, 1931. F. M. GILLESPEY SIDE FRAME FOR CAR TRUCKS Filed Jan. 22,1951 ramfo J K Gabi/65,56

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES FRANK I. GILLESPEY, F

BLOOIINGTON, ILLINOIS SIDE FRAME FOB CAB TRUCKS Application filedJanuary 22, 1881. Serial No. 510,892.

The invention relates generally to railway car trucks and moreparticularly to a side frame for such trucks.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedside frame having means for cushioning the ends of the bolster againstimpact lon itudinally of the car and which is adapted to replace sideframes now in use with standard bolsters.

Another object is to provide an improved side frame of this characterwhich is an integral casting havin reinforced means cast integrallytherewith or supporting the cushioning means and in which the cushioningmeans .is unaffected by vertical movement of the bolster relative to theside frame.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription 7 taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation partially in section of a cartruck having a side frame embodying the features of the invention. a

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the side frame taken along the line 3-3of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of side frame.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a part of thecushioning means.

While I have shown in the drawings and shall herein describe in detailtwo forms of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not intendto limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed but I aim tocover all forms andall alternative constructions falling within thespirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In present day railroad operation, the average speed at which trains areoperated has been greatly increased over what was formerly the case.This increase has introduced numerous factors requiring attention toprevent cars being out of service, chiefly because of the continualshocks which all parts have to undergo. Under such shocks, it has beenfound that assembled or fabricated side frames of car trucks, heretoforeused in considerable numbers, tend to become diassembled throughloosening of nuts and rivets or similar causes.

The present invention aims to do away with the difficulties encounteredwhen fabricated side frames are employed by providing a frame which canreplace the former and be used with standard bolsters, and whoseprincipal parts are all cast integrally. The invention provides a frameof this character which offers further resistance to shocks by havingmeans for cushioning the impact of the bolster longitudinally of theframe.

As shown in the drawings, the present embodiment of the invention is anintegral structure adapted to support axle journals at its ends and astandard bolster 9 at its mid portion, and made of a single casting. Theside frame casting comprises an upper bar 10 and a lower truss bar 11which are joined at their respective ends and have formed thereonjournal boxes 12 to enclose the axle journals. At their mid portions,the bars are bowed apart and are strengthened by a pair of verticalcolumns or posts 13 which are spaced apart to form an opening adapted toreceivethe end of the bolster. Both bars and the columns are preferablychannel-shaped in cross-section to provide a minimum of weight but amaximum of strength.

Each end of a standard bolster generally has parallel vertical sides anda pair of ribs 19 on each side forming a vertical guide slot adapted toreceive a portion of the side frame to prevent relative motion endwiseof the bolster. Herein, the bolster 9 is resiliently supported on thetruss bar 11 in the opening between the columns 13. To this end (Figs.1, 2 and 3), the mid portion of the truss bar has at its top a laterallyextending flange 14 providing a seat for a plurality of heavy coilsprings 15. In the present instance, four such springs are shown. Oneend of the bolster rests on the springs 15, and upward movement of thebolster relative to the frame is limited by the mid portion of the upperbar 10. Thus, the weight of the bolster and the weight supported therebyare vertically cushioned on the frame.

During operation, it is obvious that starting and stopping and changesof speed of -d1sclosed as comprising housings 16, preferably tubular inform and cast integrally with the frame, compression springs 17positionedwithin said housings and guide members 18 having-tubularportions which surround the springs and are slidably mounted in thehousings, the outer ends of .these guide members being preferably closedand provided with flanges or guide portions 18 adapted to fit in thevertical guide slots formed by the ribs 19 on the bolster. The housings16 are closed at their inner ends so as to provideabutments for thesprings 17 Thus, when the bolster is thrown toward the columns 13, thesprings 17 will cushion the impact. Since the outer ends of the members18 are free to slide vertically on the bolster, the springs 17 aretotally unaffected by any relative movement of the bolster. 1

To provide a strong -backing for the springs 17, each housing 16, in theform shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is cast with a heavy thick end as at 20,and reinforcing means are provided extending from the housing to theadjacent portions of the frame, such as the webs 21 and 22 extendingfrom the upper and lower portions of the housing to the upper bar 10 andto the column 13 respectively,

In the modified form of the frame shown in Fig. 4, the reinforcing meansare formed so that the stress is transferred to the column and to thetruss bar 11. Thus, a laterally extendin flange 23 is formed along thebottom of each housing and extends to the adjacent portion of the trussbar and a web 24 extends from the end of the housing to the flange 23.From the bottom of the flange 23, a small web 25 extends to the column.

In substituting one of the present frames for an old frame, the springs15 carrying the weight of the bolster and the weight supported therebyrest on the laterally extending flange 14 of the truss bar 11 to supportthe bolster within the opening between the columns 13. The verticalslots formedon the sides of the bolster by the ribs 19, which wereadapted to fit around a. portion of the old frame to prevent relativemotion endwise of the bolster, with the present frame are adapted toreceive the ends 18 of the spring-pressed members 18. Thus, the bolsteris free to move vertically with the means for cushioning the ends of thebolster against impact longitudinally of the car and which is adaptedfor use with standard bolsters. It is also apparent that the frame isstrong and will readily withstand the shocks to which'it is subjectedunder present day operating conditions.

I claim as my invention:

1. A side frame for a railway cartruck for use with a standard bolsterhaving vertical sides with spaced ribs thereon forming vertical guideslots, said frame comprising, in combination, a pair of journal boxes,an upper bar and a lower truss bar joined at their ends and supportingthe journal boxes and bowed apart at their mid portions, a pair ofspaced vertical columns extending between said bars adjacent their midportions and forming with said bars an opening adapted to receive theend of the bolster, said parts all being cast integrally, a laterallyextending flange cast integrally with the mid portion of the truss bar,and arranged to receive a plurality of springs to support the bolster, apair of housings cast integrally with the respective columns, eachhousing comprising a tubular body closed at one end and opening towardthe bolster, coil springs positioned within the housings, a pair oftubular members fitting over the respective springs andslidably guidedwithin the housings, each member having a rectangular guide plate on itsouter end slidably fitting within the vertical slot on the side of thebolster, and integrally cast reinforcing webs extending from thehousings to the upper bar and to the adjacent column.

2. A side frame for a railway car truck for use with a bolster havingends with par-' allel sides, said frame comprising, in combination, apair of journal boxes, an upper bar and a truss bar joined at their endsto support the journal boxes and bowed apart at their mid portions, apair of spaced vertical columns extending between said bars adjacenttheir mid portions and forming with said bars an opening adapted toreceive the end of the bolster, said parts all being cast integrally, aplurality of springs seated on the mid portion of said truss bar withinsaid opening to cushion the bolster vertically, a pair of housings castintegrally with the respective columns, each housing having a horizontalpocket opening toward the bolster, spring means positioned within therespective pockets and abutting against the vertical sides of thebolster to cushion its movement endwise of the frame without effectingits vertical movement, and integrally cast reinforcing webs extendingfrom the housings to one of said bars.

3. A side frame for a railway car truck for use with a standard bolsterhaving ends with vertical sides, said frame comprising, in combination,a pair of journal boxes, an upper bar and a lower bar joined at theirends to support the journal boxes and bowed apart at their mid portions,a pair of spaced vertical columns extending between said bars adjacenttheir mid portions and forming with said bars an opening adapted toreceive one end of the bolster, said parts all being cast integrally,spring means on said lower bar to support the bolster, a pair ofhousings cast integrally with the respective columns, spring meansmounted in said housings and bearing against the'ends thereof andagainst the vertical sides of the bolster, and integrally cast'websextending from the outer ends of the housings to the adjacent portionsof one bf the bars toreinforce the outer ends bination, a pair ofjournal boxes, an upper" of said housings against the pressure of saidspring means.

4. A side frame for a railway car truck for use with a bolsterhaving-ends with parallel sides, said frame comprising, in combar and atruss bar, a pair of spaced vertical columns extending between said barsadjacent their mid portions and forming with said bars an openingadapted to receive the end of the bolster, said parts all being castintegrally, means to support one end of the bolster within said opening,a pair of housings cast integrally with the respective columns, eachhousing having a pock'etbpening toward the bolster, cushioning meanspositioned within the respective pockets and abutting against thevertical sides of the bolster to cushion its movement endwise of theframe without effecting its vertical moveinent, and integrally castreinforcing webs extending from the housings to one of said bars.

5. A side frame for a" railway car truck for use with a bolster havingends with par allel sides, said frame comprising. in combination, a pairof journal boxes, an upper bar and a truss bar, a pair of spacedvertical columns extending between said bars adjacent their mid portionsand forming with said bars an opening adapted to receive the end of thebolster, said parts all being cast integrally, a plurality of springsseated on the mid portion of said truss bar within said opening tocushion the bolster vertically, a

pair of housings cast integrally with the respective columns, eachhousing having a recess opening toward the bolster, and cushioning means positioned within the respective pockets and abutting against thevertical sides of the bolster to cushion its movement endwise of theframe without efiectingits vertical movement, including tubular mem intestimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

FRANK M. GILLESPEY.

